Wish you all a prosperous and peaceful year,2010. This is my first post of this year and was asking help from God to guide me . This particular portion was the answer to my prayer and I hope its a blessing to you .
“ This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.”.Ezra 7-6
The beginning of the verse says Ezra came from Babylon .A brief introduction to this is – the people of Israel were captivated and was taken to Babylon and the Bible teaches that it happened in three stages . The return from Babylon was also in three stages and Ezra was the leader of those who returned to Jerusalem during the period of the King Arthaxerxes(the second return). The captives were given the freedom to choose whether to stay back in the comfort of Babylon or to undertake the hardship and travel the long journey from Babylon which take months, risking the lives of their family and loved ones as they travel through the wilderness ,but the end result is the city of God,Jerusalem. Where are we heading to this year? Have you given a thought ? Are we choosing to stay back in the comfort of Babylon ;the sinful world around us with compromises each day or are we focusing Jerusalem, the city of God. For a child of God each day is challenging , its a warfare between the spirit and flesh, right and wrong. In this year 2010 God wants his children to be separated from all kinds of sin.Take the decision to overcome all the powers that kept you captivated from reaching the promises God has planned for you.
When I was reading this part in the Bible ,a question came to my mind who is Ezra? and Why did God choose Ezra for the return of Israelites from exile?Chapters 7&8 in the book of Ezra depicts the life of Ezra and his mission very beautifully. There are a few things i would like to comment individually.
1)The hand of the Lord was upon Him.The meaning of the word Ezra is “help”, a person who trust God as his helper.It was evident for everyone that Gods favor was upon him .It was the favor of God towards Ezra that made the King grant everything Ezra asked for . The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will(.Proverbs21:1)
2) The ancestry of Ezra , he came from a family of priests and its traced back to the chief priest Aaron. His ancestors were well known for their holiness . (Ezra 7:1-5).
3)A ready scribe in the law of Moses. A person who have set his heart to learn and understand the laws and commandments of God. A person well versed in the word of God and He knew how to imply it on the day to day life. Ezra 7:10”For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments”.
4) A mission- to prepare the people to worship God. The knowledge in the word of God, a humble heart and above all separation from Sin and a strong desire for holiness were the characteristics’ that set Ezra apart from the rest of the crowd.When the King handed the letter to Ezra to take the people to Jerusalem and beautify the house of Lord, Ezra humbled himself before God. He took strength to do such a great task by the understanding , the hand of the LORD is upon him.Ezra 7:27,28
5) A priest who cries to God for their sin.(Ezra 9) After reaching Jerusalem,the people of Israel did not keep themselves separated from the people of the land. Hearing this Ezra was torn apart and he goes into a deep pain.He knew that God showed them mercy and delivered a small remnant to come back from exile and now that remnant have sinned against God.Instead of considering himself righteous; Ezra is confessing for the sins. He wept and prayed for the sin of the people and asked for a revival. The answer for his prayer was a great repentance. This completes the mission of Ezra, a remnant segregated to worship God and beautify the house of God.
Today also our God is searching for Ezra’s in our generation so that he can commission them for the heavenly purpose. God can use us only if we have a zeal to know his ways. Like Ezra lets be able to find favor in the eyes of God.If we have fallen short of his grace due to sin, ask for repentance and God is gracious to send a revival to your spirit. Also our High priest, Jesus Christ made us all priests according to the new covenant, so that we can also intercede for our our fellow-believers, friends and family and thereby lets be among the remnant that God have shown mercy. In the journey of life let Gods hand be upon you.
In Christ Jesus,
Smitha Thomas.
